Summer Solstice | Anderson Valley Brewing Company

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Our Summer Solstice Seasonal Ale is a slightly sweet, malty session beer with a creamy mouth feel and clean finish. With hints of caramel in the nose and a touch of spice, it’s become affectionately known as “cream soda for adults”. The unique flavors and superior drinkability make for the ultimate refreshment on a hot summer day.

Reviews by SurlyDuff:

Wasn't expecting this to be a cream ale. Had on-tap at the BendBrewfest. Light orange hue, interesting for a cream ale. The gal had problems pouring it, foam everywhere.
Smelles a bit malty, noticable fruit, yet not too sweet.

Taste was great, unique even. A bit bready but surprised to taste hops and a nice bite. It wasn't the cream ale i was acccustomed to, but in a good way. Definitly taste the creaminess though.

Some may say its a bit intense for a cream, but its right up my alley. It didnt fit the cookie cutter standard for a cream, and Im giving it extra points for that. Don't see this one all to often here, but if it shows up, I'll jump on a 6-pack!

More User Reviews:

Slightly cloudy red-orange amber with virtually no head or lacing. Aroma is red grape: fearing another juice brew. Tastes toasty, toffee or caramel with hints of fruit, and a raisiny finish. Feels smooth and clean with no hop bitterness. Yes, it is a juice/wine brew. It might be okay on a warm relaxing late summer/early fall afternoon. Maybe around the BBQ with hot dogs and other junk food.

I enjoyed Vode's characterization though I don't dislike this as vehemently. Still, not a go-to brew.

Should have read the label more closely before picking up a single bottle of this brew from my local beer and cheese place in Brooklyn. Pours into a beautiful amber / copper creamy frothy pint. Really gorgeous. Unfortunately this stuff smells and tastes like a caramel candy pop, and has the consistency of Aunt Jemima. What an utter disaster this thing is. So aggravated I slammed into my sink drain. Alas I had no children around who I'd feed a beer because they'd love this crap.

Pours a deep copper with a one finger fizzy-like head that is gone pretty quickly leaving no lace behind,lighter aromas on the malty side a touch of roastiness and some nuts in there as well.Malt dominated flavors lightly sweet even more so in the finish pretty grainy and lighter in the mouthfeel department.There is a spice in this brew that I cant put my finger on,Iam thinking vanilla the more I drink but not quite sure.A pretty good offering and highly drinkable good for the summer months for sure.

On tap at the Park Bar in Detroit. Pours a burnt amber-traffic-light kind of color with a small, wispy white head that remains as a thin film on the top of the beer. Virtually no lacing was left on the way down. Upon the first sniff and taste, you immediately get a sense of some wild, fruity flavors, maybe like wild berry and white grape. However, I knew there was a stronger taste that I couldn't quite put my finger on until the beer warmed up -- figs. Halfway through, the figs were prominent and easily noticeable. By the end it was like a liquid Fig Newton. Very unique and very tasty. Little bit of hops in the background, but overall more malt. Body was medium-thin, clean, left your mouth a little wet afterwards. Sharp carbonation on the back of the tongue, maybe just a bit too much.

Overall, a nice and refreshing beer that tastes of berries and figs. Very commendable for being so unique, I'd most likely have this one again.

A- Reddish amber with copper highlights. Pours with a nice creamy 1 inch thick head with great retention and pretty lacing.

S- Lots of deep caramel and vanilla sweetness with a little bit of sweet corn, malt and blackberry.

T- Awesome. Lots of nice fresh vanilla and melted caramel with still just a hint of the berry found in the nose and just the faintest bitterness on the back to really round it out. Light enough in flavor to drink a bunch on a hot day but strong enough to keep you coming back.

M- Very creamy with a moderate carbonation to round out the flavors. Perfect for the style and exceptional regardless.

D- Tasty and easy drinking, had it on tap at the brewery and decided to pick up a six pack (in cans) and it was just as good. A very satisfying drink.

Aromas of toasted grain and mild hop mirror the flavor, crisp wheat and bready ... very smooth. Suggestions of pears and vanilla come to mind. Quite malty but to big of a body for a summer brew. Very mild hopping though the palate does dry out in the end.